Police Union Chief Slams Official

Fort Lauderdale Manager Accused Of Having `Agenda' In Officer's Case

September 3, 2005|By Brittany Wallman Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — Fraternal Order of Police local union President Jack Lokeinsky threw the latest punch in a fight between police and City Manager George Gretsas, saying that he's trying to discredit the department to put his people in charge.

In a news conference Friday, Lokeinsky accused Gretsas of ulterior motives for suspending Officer Robert Hoffman for 30 days without pay for misconduct in a courtroom. He said the suspension would be appealed through the union.

Lokeinsky said Gretsas has used the case to rattle the department, by writing a harsh memo in which he blamed police for botching the investigation.

"The way the letter is written is an obvious attempt to once again try to condemn the Police Department," Lokeinsky said.

He said the punishment is "disparate" and that similar cases would warrant only a letter of reprimand, as recommended by the city's Citizen Review Board.

Police Chief Bruce Roberts originally recommended a one-day suspension, then later a firing and then even later a four-day suspension.

Lokeinsky sent a letter to the manager Friday saying that "hidden agendas and actions for ulterior motives simply have no place in a professionally conducted investigation."

Ultimately, however, the decision is still the city manager's. Gretsas issued his suspension ruling Thursday.

On Friday, Gretsas called the union's complaint "silliness and noise."

"I'm trying to get everyone within the city to move away from an us-vs.-them mentality, which was the culture in the organization for the past 30 years," he said.

Relations between the department and Gretsas have steadily deteriorated. This week, questions were raised on whether traffic police had targeted Gretsas, his assistant manager and spokesman David HM-ibert. Each have received traffic tickets since May, the most recent Aug. 24.

Last week, Gretsas announced that he was transferring HM-ibert to be the police chief's executive officer, after rejecting the chief's appointee to the job.

That officer, Capt. Al Ortenzo, was retiring and Gretsas said the city attorney ruled it wasn't legal to rehire a retired employee, who would then be receiving a salary and a retirement city check. Previous executive officers have received both, but they pre-date Gretsas, who arrived one year ago.

Lokeinsky wrote in his letter to Gretsas that HM-ibert, former advisor to the Westchester County district attorney in New York, is not qualified. Gretsas knew HM-ibert in New York.

"I find it difficult to stand proudly by a City Manager who appears to be promoting a `good ole boy' form of government ... ," Lokeinsky wrote.

He also mentioned a recent flare-up between HM-ibert and police officers at a hurricane ice giveaway at Joseph Carter Park that led to a professional standards complaint against HM-ibert.HM-ibert needed police to direct pedestrians away from an ice truck that was backing up, and he said four officers were standing nearby not helping. In the complaint, an officer, who is not identified, said she was upset because he yelled, "Officer, officer, I need these people out of here so I can get this truck backed up!"

"I ... told him that if he needed assistance he could just meet with us, state what his needs were and if it was within the scope of responsibility we would be more than happy to assist," the complaint said.

Brittany Wallman can be reached at bwallman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4541.